Hanli Prinsloo

Cape Town, South Africa

Hanli Prinsloo is an inspirational speaker, free-diving champion, documentary maker and accomplished ocean adventurer. Having been freediving with blue whales, tiger sharks and other marine megafauna, Hanli draws from her ocean lessons learnt to discuss risk, fear and limiting assumptions in all walks of life.

After being raised in South Africa and later living in Sweden, Hanli developed a love and understanding of water. Through her work as a free diver Hanli has developed an expertise in mind over body control and mental toughness. She uses this knowledge to train some of the world’s top athletes including the Springbok Sevens rugby team and international surfers.

An 11 times South African freediving record holder, Hanli uses her knowledge and love of the ocean to deliver talks on motivation, mindfulness and consciousness. She is CEO of the I Am Water Foundation, an organisation that fosters ocean conservation and aims to ensure that all individuals of South Africa have an understanding of, and equal access to, the ocean.

Her documentary work has taken her into the front-lines of social political conflict all over Africa, from Burundi to Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe to name a few.

As an accomplished speaker Hanli discusses ocean conservation through human experience. She encourages people to learn more about themselves and the ocean through free diving and conservation. Hanli’s work demonstrates the opportunities and insights that the ocean offers.

Hanli is recognised as a Young Global Leader under the World Economic Forum. In 2016, she joined Davos as part of the Young Global Leader group, and participated in two discussions, one on Extreme Explorers and one on The Transformative Power of Awe.

Our Comment

"Hanli is a passionate and inspirational speaker, whose visual material from the underwater realm combined with her vibrant storytelling captures the imagination and inspires audiences of all ages and walks of life. Having travelled the world as a free diver and motivational speaker she is well placed to discuss ocean conservation, human consciousness and free diving."